Title

Description

Back of t-shirt with the words:
"The eyes of Texas are upon you...
For your spirit can ne&#39;er be told
In time of greatest tragedy
You have a hand to hold."

Susan Hill sent the following email explaining the signifigance of this T-shirt:

"Dear Fellow Hokies,
First, let me say how much you are all still in our thoughts and prayers.God bless you all! May the healing continue for all of you personally, and for Tech and Blacksburg as a community. And thank you very much for the work you are doing!

I think I may have more information for you (if you are interested) for item 2065 (a T-shirt). This T-shirt was actually a joint project of both the University of Texas and Texas A&M University. Referring to the words on the
front of the shirt, the first "orange" is the burnt orange of the University of Texas (Longhorns) and the first "maroon" is the maroon of Texas A&M (Aggies). The second "orange" and the second "maroon" are the colors for
Virginia Tech. The first line on the back of the shirt in burnt orange is from the University of Texas school song. The second line on the back of the shirt in maroon is from the Texas A&M school song. The words in black are
the message of support the students of both schools wanted to convey to the Virginia Tech community. Unless you are a Longhorn or an Aggie, you would not realize what a big deal this is.

Shortly after the shootings last April, the University of Texas at Austin held a vigil for Virginia Tech. They sold these T-shirts to raise money to donate to Tech. I spoke to the student body president at the vigil. I was so surprised to see the T-shirts. She said this was the first time, to her knowledge, that the Univeristy of Texas and Texas A&M student governments had worked together on a project. I bought 4 shirts that night before they ran out. Two of the shirts I gave away to fellow Hokies at the vigil. The third
shirt I mailed to the Winistorfer family in Blacksburg. (Paul is head of the department of Wood Science, and he and his wife Jeanette have two young sons.) I had never met them, but they had so kindly invited my niece to spend Easter with them just before the tragedy (my niece had recently lost her mother). And I felt moved to reach out to them. I sent them the third T-shirt with an orange and maroon ribbon from the vigil pinned on it and a letter describing the vigil at the University of Texas and how it had brought people together. I wore the 4th T-shirt the next day, but it didn&#39;t feel like it was meant for me. So I put it away...until this past Wed.

John Woods, a graduate student at the University of Texas in Austin, recently sent an email to our Tech alumni chapter here in Austin explaning that he was helping to organize a memorial this past Wed. for the Tech students who died. He said that he was a senior at Tech when the shootings
happened, and that one of the Tech students who had been killed was his girlfriend. It was then that I knew the 4th shirt was meant for him. I went to the memorial service and gave him the shirt. John gave a talk that embodied a year&#39;s worth of profound grief and deep thought. Perhaps it may
be worth collecting some of that type of reflection and wisdom?...or perhaps you all are already swamped with material. I spoke to the current University
of Texas student body president at the memorial on Wed. He saw the shirt I had brought for John, and he said he was one of the students that had organized the shirt effort with Texas A&M. He said he wears his shirt all the time. It
obviously still had a lot of meaning for him. When I got home from the memorial service Wed., there was a small package in the mail from the Winistorfers. I had never heard from them (I had not expected to). Both Paul and Jeanette described what the past year had been like for them. Oh my! The courage and strength of your community is deeply moving! The Winistorfers told me that they had added the shirt I sent to the momentoes left in the 2 enormous white tents set up on the drill field last year. I think that is how item 2065 got to you.

So please understand that item 2065 is from BOTH the University of Texas AND Texas A&M. They came together to support Virginia Tech. And for those two schools, that is an historic event.

Description

Susan Hill sent the following email explaining the signifigance of this T-shirt:

"Dear Fellow Hokies,
First, let me say how much you are all still in our thoughts and prayers.God bless you all! May the healing continue for all of you personally, and for Tech and Blacksburg as a community. And thank you very much for the work you are doing!

I think I may have more information for you (if you are interested) for item 2065 (a T-shirt). This T-shirt was actually a joint project of both the University of Texas and Texas A&M University. Referring to the words on the
front of the shirt, the first "orange" is the burnt orange of the University of Texas (Longhorns) and the first "maroon" is the maroon of Texas A&M (Aggies). The second "orange" and the second "maroon" are the colors for
Virginia Tech. The first line on the back of the shirt in burnt orange is from the University of Texas school song. The second line on the back of the shirt in maroon is from the Texas A&M school song. The words in black are
the message of support the students of both schools wanted to convey to the Virginia Tech community. Unless you are a Longhorn or an Aggie, you would not realize what a big deal this is.

Shortly after the shootings last April, the University of Texas at Austin held a vigil for Virginia Tech. They sold these T-shirts to raise money to donate to Tech. I spoke to the student body president at the vigil. I was so surprised to see the T-shirts. She said this was the first time, to her knowledge, that the Univeristy of Texas and Texas A&M student governments had worked together on a project. I bought 4 shirts that night before they ran out. Two of the shirts I gave away to fellow Hokies at the vigil. The third
shirt I mailed to the Winistorfer family in Blacksburg. (Paul is head of the department of Wood Science, and he and his wife Jeanette have two young sons.) I had never met them, but they had so kindly invited my niece to spend Easter with them just before the tragedy (my niece had recently lost her mother). And I felt moved to reach out to them. I sent them the third T-shirt with an orange and maroon ribbon from the vigil pinned on it and a letter describing the vigil at the University of Texas and how it had brought people together. I wore the 4th T-shirt the next day, but it didn&#39;t feel like it was meant for me. So I put it away...until this past Wed.

John Woods, a graduate student at the University of Texas in Austin, recently sent an email to our Tech alumni chapter here in Austin explaning that he was helping to organize a memorial this past Wed. for the Tech students who died. He said that he was a senior at Tech when the shootings
happened, and that one of the Tech students who had been killed was his girlfriend. It was then that I knew the 4th shirt was meant for him. I went to the memorial service and gave him the shirt. John gave a talk that embodied a year&#39;s worth of profound grief and deep thought. Perhaps it may
be worth collecting some of that type of reflection and wisdom?...or perhaps you all are already swamped with material. I spoke to the current University
of Texas student body president at the memorial on Wed. He saw the shirt I had brought for John, and he said he was one of the students that had organized the shirt effort with Texas A&M. He said he wears his shirt all the time. It
obviously still had a lot of meaning for him. When I got home from the memorial service Wed., there was a small package in the mail from the Winistorfers. I had never heard from them (I had not expected to). Both Paul and Jeanette described what the past year had been like for them. Oh my! The courage and strength of your community is deeply moving! The Winistorfers told me that they had added the shirt I sent to the momentoes left in the 2 enormous white tents set up on the drill field last year. I think that is how item 2065 got to you.

So please understand that item 2065 is from BOTH the University of Texas AND Texas A&M. They came together to support Virginia Tech. And for those two schools, that is an historic event.

God bless you all!!
Susan Hill &#39;82"

Creator

Kacey Beddoes

Date

2008-04-09

Contributor

Kacey Beddoes

Rights

Kacey Beddoes (kbeddoes@vt.edu)

Susan Hill <hlldan@sbcglobal.net>

Language

Title

Flower card

Description

A card with each victim&#39;s name and a flower.

Caption says:

"This letter was sent from an Amish woman who has, herself and within her community, experienced tremendous loss. It is often individuals such as these who feel the most need to reach out to others in times of tragedy. The comments in her letter reflect her thoughts toward each of the victims and the experiences that have allowed her to feel close us as well as her thanks to all that responded after the shooting incident at their Amish school."

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April 16 Exhibit in Squires

Description

This is the promotional flyer made for the "April 16: Remembrance, Recognition and Healing" exhibit. The exhibit was on display from April 5-20, 2008 at the Perspective Gallery in Squires Student Center at Virginia Tech. The exhibit featured photographs and many items sent to VT from around the world,including letters,artwork, flags, and clothing. There was also a television playing speeches by George W. Bush and Professor Giovanni made in the days following the April 16.

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NASA flag

Description

In honor of Virginia Tech, this flag was flown aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-117 mission to the International Space Station and then sent to VT by NASA. From June 8-22, 2007 it orbited the earth for 13 days, 20 hours, 12 minutes, and 44 seconds. It made 22 earth orbits. The plaque sent with the flag says, "In memory of the courageous students and faculty who lost their lives on April 16, 2007."

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Washington Nationals Hats

Description

These hats, which were worn by the Washington National baseball team during thier game on April 17, 2007, were sent to VT as a sign of support. One of the hats worn during the game is now in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.

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Kokeshi Doll

Description

This Kokeshi doll in Hokie colors was sent from a school in Yokosuka, Japan. Kokeshi dolls are traditionally given to children when they visit foreign lands. This one was sent in memory of the innocence lost in the tragedy.